In 30 years of coaching the Ocean City High School surf team, Mark Miedama has seen the sport and the squad evolve.
“What we have today are true student athletes,” said Mark, whose teams have won 25 National Scholastic Surf Association (NSSA) Northeast Championships since 1981. “There is almost a professional attitude. They take it seriously and they are very competitive”.
That attitude will be put to the test in June when the team travels to Orange County, California for the NSSA nationals. They will go head-to-head with the best high school surfers in the United States at the legendary Dana Point and Tressels. The latter spot “actually a large area with about eight different breaks to choose from,” according to Mark, earned a mention in the Beach Boys’ anthem “Surfin’ USA.”
“It’s a great opportunity,” said Miedama, a fifth grade math and science teacher who has been with the district for three decades. “For waves of that height, I don’t think I’ve ever seen better surfing in my life. These high school kids really rip it up.”
Before the Red Raiders leave for the four-day journey on June 8, there is the not-so small matter of financing it. To help make that happen, the OCHS Surf Team Family Night will take place Thursday at Bocca in Margate (7805 Ventnor Ave.) from 6-9 p.m. Tickets are $20 per person and $50 per family for up to five family members. The event will feature gourmet coal fired pizza, salads and live music from the band “Heavy Woods featuring Brian Wright.
All proceeds from the event will support the squad as they go after a national title.
Miedama said 35 students comprise this year’s team, which finished second in the Northeast Division of the NSSA to Manasquan. Nine, the “A-team” will be going to the nationals: six male surfers, two females and one long boarder. But all the members share in pride and bragging rights,” he said. And that extends to the rest of the school and community.
Surfing himself since he was 10 years old, the Yardley, PA native spent “every summer of my life” in Ocean City and moved here shortly after graduating from the University of Delaware. He is anxious for his team members to keep enjoying the sport at a high level.
“I’d like to thank the Board of Education, which has supported us over the years, and of course the parents,” Miedama said. “Surfing is not a cheap sport.
For that reason, he emphasized, he hopes there is a large turnout Thursday night at Bocca.
